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Protein breakdown precedes pancreatic tumor development

Nature Medicine volume 20, pages 1097–1099 (2014)Cite this article

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A new study shows that plasma levels of branched-chain amino acids are elevated in subjects several years before they are diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. This may reflect breakdown of peripheral protein stores in the early stages of the disease.

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Figure 1: Early pancreatic cancer is associated with changes in circulating amino acids.

Katie Vicari/Nature Publishing Group

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Sam R. Holmstrom and Kenneth P. Olive are at the Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center and at the Departments of Medicine and Pathology & Cell Biology, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York, USA.,

    Sam R. Holmstrom & Kenneth P. Olive

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  1. Sam R. Holmstrom
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  2. Kenneth P. Olive
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Correspondence to Kenneth P. Olive.

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Holmstrom, S., Olive, K. Protein breakdown precedes pancreatic tumor development. Nat Med 20, 1097–1099 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1038/nm.3714

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